Three schools set for possible redevelopments

West Berkshire Council is currently drawing up detailed designs for new facilities at three district schools

THREE secondary schools in West Berkshire could be on their way to welcoming major re-development projects.

West Berkshire Council is drawing up detailed designs for a new sixth form and performing arts facility at John O'Gaunt school, in Priory Road Hungerford, an impaired hearing and special educational needs units for Kennet School in Stoney Lane, Thatcham, and a new science lab and an extension of the sports hall for the Downs school, in Compton.

The West Berkshire Council executive portfolio holder for young people and education, Irene Neill (Con, Aldermaston), said the council's plans were still in the feasibility stage at the moment, and she said she hoped once knowledge of government funding became clearer all three projects could go ahead next year.

“We don't know an awful lot at the moment because we don't know how much funding we are going to get but all three projects have been identified as being much needed,” she said.

“The current science lab facilities in the Downs School are bad for teaching and this will be a much better facility. In Kennet the facilities for hard of hearing children were transferred from another school so again this will be a much better upgrade, and John O'Gaunt does need better sixth form facilities so we hope this will help.”

The Downs School held a public consultation in July for members of the public to find out more about the scheme before a planning application was submitted.

The plans for all three projects are subject to planning conditions and confirmation of Government funding and a spokeswoman for the council, Peta Stoddart-Crompton, said the aim was for all three school projects to commence construction on site at the same time early next year.

“The council cannot yet confirm the total amount of funds it can commit to these projects, because the Government has not informed the council how much funding it will receive for new school buildings in 2012 and future years,” she said.

“The allocation for 2012 is not expected to be confirmed until towards the end of this year, and therefore, it is not possible at this stage to confirm which, if any, of these schools projects can proceed to construction.”